Zom gives his Presents. 97

 

“é “What a funny boy you are !” said Archie,
laughing. “Why, yes, of course.”

Tom stood quiet again, listening. He
wished Archie did not call him stupid and
funny. He also wished he could play “ Pop
goes the Weasel” and “The Last Rose of
Summer.” He was constantly finding out
what a number of things other boys could
do that he could not do, and it made him
feel uncomfortable. | |

“Is it easy ?” he asked. Archie shook his
head.

“Very difficult indeed. It took me days
and days to get it into my head. I can
remember ‘That’s the way the money goes’
quite well; but it’s ‘Pop goes the weasel’ that
I forget.”

“Archie,” said Tom, when the tune was
finished, “can you paint a picture ?”

“No,” said Archie. “How could 1? I’ve
no paints.”

“T did,” said Tom, quickly; “ long avo,
when I was a very little boy. Can you
repeat any poetry? 1 can.”